Pitchfork attachment.



H. G. PIETZ. PITCHFORK ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1915.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

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HENRY e. rrnrz, or TRIPP, soU'rH DAKOTA.

PITCHFOR-K ATTACHMENT.

4 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1916. Serial No. 91,893.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HENRY G. Prn'rz, acitizen of the United States, residing at Tripp, in the county ofHutchinson and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pitchfork Attachments, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for securing the fork of apitch fork or like implement to its handle.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, which are simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pitch fork embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fork or implement holding member,

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal view through the socket of the fork andassociated elements, and, r

Fig. 4 is a similar view through the rear end of the handle, showingadjusting means.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a fork,of any well known or preferred construction, or like implement, formedupon or carried by a socket 6, which is preferably integral therewith.This socket is adapted for the reception of the reducedforward end of ahandle 7, as shown.

The numeral 8 designates a holding memher, having one end bent in theform of a hook or loop 9, straddling a portion of the fork 5, betweenthe tines thereof, as shown. The holding member 8 has its body portionapertured as shown at 10, for the reception of the bent end of the wireor rod 11, which end is secured within the aperture by a head 12, formedby the wire being flattened at this point. The wire extendslongitudinally of the handle 7 and is held against displacement by astaple 13, which is secured to the handle. The handle 7 is provided nearits rear end with a longitudinally extending opening l-t, passingthrough the rear end thereof and loading to the surface of the handle,at a point arranged near and spaced a substantial distance from the rearend of the handle. The wire or rod 11 passes through the opening 14: andits free end is screw-threaded, for engagement with an adjusting nut.15, contacting with a metallic cap 16, carried by the rear end of thehandle 7 From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the member 8will hold the'socket 6 upon the reduced end of the handle 7, and thebinding action of the member 8 may be regulated by manipulation of thenut 15. Vihen it is desired to remove the fork 5 from its handle, thenut 15 is unscrewed from the wire 11 and such wire moved longitudinallysufficiently to permit of the member 8 disengaging the fork 5, at whichtime the fork may be removed from the handle.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a handle having anopening formed in its rear end and extending longitudinally thereof fora substantial distance with the forward portion of the openingprojecting upwardly and passing through the surface of the handle, saidhandle having its forward end tapered; a socket member to fit upon thetapered end of the handle; a ground treating implement formed integralwith the socket member; a holding member having its forward end formedsubstantially as wide as the space between portions of the groundtreating implement and bent into a hook for receiving; a portion of theimplement and adapted to engage and draw the implement and socket towardthe rear end of the handle, said holding memher having an opening formedin its rear end; a wire extending longitudinally of the handle andhaving one end bent at a right angle to extend within the opening formedin the holding, member and flattened to pro= Patented Nov. 6, 191-7.

ing the Wire to prevent displacementlaterally of the handle. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY G. PIETZ.

vide a head for insuring a positive connection between the Wire and theholding member, the rear end of the wire extending through the openingand beyond the Tea-1' end of the handle and provided with screwthreads;a nut to engage the screw-threaded end of thewire to adjust the samelongitudinally of the handle; and a staple engag- Witnesses GEORGE G.PIETZ, HENRY KLATT, Jr.

@epies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents Washington, 1). =8.

